Hood latch



July 18, 1939. D. P. HYNES HOOD LATCH Original Filed Sept. 3,

1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 18, 1939. HYNES I 2,166,252

' HOOD LATCH Original Filed Sept. 3, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 saga Q 4 3PMLM Patented July 18, 1939 UNITED STATES HOOD LATCH Dibrell P. Hynes,Chicago, 111., assignor to mcago Forging & Manufacturing Company,Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Original application September3, 1937, Serial Divided and this application April s, 1938, Serial No.200,848

,2 Claims. (01. cos- 21) My invention relates to an improvement in hoodlatch and closures and has for one purpose the provision of a closureadaptable for use for example with hood closures of automobiles.

Another purpose is the provision of improved bearing means for thecontrolling handle of the shaft of a hood latch.

Another purpose is the provision of improved reinforcing means forreinforcing the hood closure.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of thespecification and claims.

The present application is a division of my copending application SerialNo. 162,309 which was filed on September 3, 1937.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings where- 1n:

Figure 1 is an inside elevation;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure .3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; v

Figure 4 is an enlarged View of a portion of i the structure shown inFigure 1;

Figure ,5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a 'view of the structure shown in Figure 4 with the parts ina different position;

Figure 7 is a section on the line 'l'! of Figure 6; and I Figure 8 is asection on the line 8-8 of Figure 1.

Like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the specificationand drawings.

Referring to the drawings, I indicates a portion of the automobile bodyand 2 a portion of the radiator structure or some part adjacent to orassociated therewith. 3 indicates a portion of the hood closure hereinshown as the movable or hinged portion. As the details thereof do not ofthemselves form part of the present invention, I do not show the hingedstructure. Secured for example by bolts to the inner face of the member3 is a reinforcing channel, including a body portion 4 herein shown ascurved and flanges 5, 6 at the opposite edges thereof with intermediatewebs whereby the members 5 and 6 engage the inner face of the closure 3and support the portion 4 in inwardly spaced relation thereto.

Secured to the member 4 is a rock shaft 8 herein shown as curved ordistorted by the employment of a plurality of bearing members 9, 9 andl0, Ill. The details of the bearing members 9, 9 are shown for examplein Figure 8, said bearing member including the rod engaging loop II, thetoe l2 penetrating through the aperture IS, the flange I4 bearingagainst the face of the member 4, and any suitable bolt or securingmeans l5. The ends of the rod 8 are offset to form locking cranks l6which operate against any suitable upwardly and inwardly inclinedlocking keepers or brackets IT, as shown for example in Figure 8.

I8 is a central crank offset of the rod 8. It may be rotated into andout of locking position, for example by the exterior handle I9, andincludes a generally cylindrical portion terminated in a flatscrew-threaded portion 2|, the portion 2| projecting through an aperture22 in the member 3 and through an intermediate portion of the channelmember 4.

23 indicates a crank member shown as having a substantially fiat bearingsurface opposed throughout a substantial area to the central portion 25of the channel member 4. It has a crank portion proper 26 shown asrolled in a partially cylindrical form and inclined inwardly somewhatinrelation to the bearing face of the member 23. It is provided with anysuitable hardened outer sleeve 21 conforming in shape thereto and heldin position for example by crimped portions 28. This hardened surface27, which may be of thin sheet metal, is opposed to the crank offset l8and the two are held in engagement or opposition by any suitable stirrup29, which stirrup is apertured to fit over the portion 26 and may alsobe held in position by the crimped portions or lugs 28. Since it isrotatable about the member 26, it moves as the handle I9 is rotated andprevents any unintended binding or looking.

With reference for example to Figure 6, it will be seen that the crankoffset IB has radial portions 30 which are connected at their outer endsby a connecting portion including two angular sections 3! and 32, thepurpose for which will later appear.

The central portion 25 of the channel member 4 may be reinforced by aspacing or reinforcing member having a web 33 opposed to the innersurface of the member 25 and conforming generally thereto. It may have acircumferential spacing flange 34 and a cup 35 terminating in a bearingsleeve 36, which is alined with a bearing sleeve 3'! formed in theportion 25 of the reinforcing channel. The portion 20 extends throughsaid bearing sleeves and the assembly may be locked together as by thewasher 38 and the lock nuts 39. The reinforcing member may also beprovided with a lug 40 extending through an aperture 4| in the portion25 and serving as a limiting abutment for the member 23. It may also beprovided with ears 42 which extend through apertures 43 in the member 25to form the bearings If! for the rock shaft 8.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practicaland operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in the size,shape, number and disposition of parts. I therefore wish my drawings tobe taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather thanas limiting me to the specific structure herein shown and described.

It will be realized, for example, that whereas I have shown my rockshaft and locking means as mounted on the movable portion of anautomobile hood closure, it may equally well be positioned on a fixedportion with the abutment IT or its equivalent being positioned on themovable portion.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

When the handle I9 is in the position in which it is shown in Figures 1,4 and 5, the locking cranks I6 are in looking or latching positionagainst the keeper brackets H. The spring of the shaft 8 in connectionwith the inclination of the brackets ll causes the closure 3 to be drawndownwardly and inwardly at the same time in a firm, andrattle-preventing position. The resilience of the rod 8 and its cranksand the fact that the crank IB is set on an inclined surface provides anautomatic take-up feature to care for wear or for variations in size andlocation of parts. This is important under assem bly line conditions ofproduction.

The bearing means for the shaft are of importance and it will be noted,as for example in Figure 5, that the members and 33 are provided withalined bearing sleeves 36 and 31, one formed on the main channel orreinforcement of the device and the other on the intermediatereinforcement which is located within the web of the channel member.

When the handle is moved in the direction of the arrow of Figure 1through an arc of about ninety degrees, the rock shaft 8 is rotated intounlatching position, the cranks I 6 being moved in the direction of thearrow in Figure 8. This rotation of the rock shaft 8 is caused by theengagement of its intermediate crank portion between the crank member 26of the handle assembly and the stirrup 29. The portions 3|, 32 have forfunction to crowd the rock shaft toward locking position and to maintaina firm locking relationship.

Starting from the unlocked position of Fig. 6, the member 26 first ridesalong one of the rock shaft portions and thereby causes a rotation ofthe rock shaft. However, it shortly rides over the end of the section 30and then rides upon 1 the inclined portion 32. This being outwardlyinclined or bowed, causes a further progressive movement of the rockshaft toward locking position. The parts are so proportioned that whenthe member 23 engages the abutment 40, the device is slightly pastcenter and the torsion of the rock shaft tends to keep the parts inlocked position.

I claim:

1. In a support for shafts, a relatively extended supporting member, abase plate, said base plate including flanges engaging said supportingmember, and a web spaced outwardly from said supporting memberthroughout a substantial area, an intermediate reinforcement betweensaid web and said supporting member, said reinforcement includingportions projecting through apertures in said web, a shaft extendingthrough said supporting member, said web and said reinforcement, andalined bearing members for said shaft, one being formed in said web andanother in said intermediate reinforcement.

2. In a support for a plurality of shafts, the axes of said shafts beingat right angles to each other, a relatively extended supporting member,a base plate, said base plate including flanges engaging said supportingmember, and a web spaced outwardly away from said supporting memberthrough a substantial area, an intermediate reinforcement between saidweb and said supporting member, including portions extending throughapertures in said supporting member, said portions being formed intobearing sleeves, a shaft extending through said bearing sleeves, andbeing located on the side of said base plate opposite to saidintermediate reinforcement, and an additional shaft extending throughsaid supporting member, said web and said reinforcement, and alinedbearing members for said shaft, one being formed in said web and anotherin said intermediate reinforcement.

DIBRELL P. HYNES.

